Deck hatchs???

[Boilermaker]

I am thinking of adding 2 small access hatches in the deck of my 18ft runabout. The boat always seems to have water in the bilge, even though its trailered. I just would like a small opening in the front below the bow deck(NOT a bow rider). And in the back, in front of the bilge well. <br />I figured I could open them and get some air movement to let water evaporate, and to get the last of the water out (just a petpeve of mine). OR I could just install a blower in front under the bow deck & blow air under the deck & out the back hatch. Maybe even move the bilge pump out of the drainwell at the transome, and put it under the deck.<br />I figured the drier the better! <br />ANY suggetions on what type of hatch/deckplate???<br />Anybody do this before???<br />Thanks for your thoughts!<br />Jim

 

[crab bait]

Re: Deck hatchs???

then you'll have MORE water access thru the 2 new hatches.. <br /><br />REMEMBER :: <br /><br />IT'S A BOAT..

 

[Boilermaker]

Re: Deck hatchs???

Thanks,<br />I'm well aware of the use of the vehical. I am also well aware of the problems of ROT in substructures!!!<br />The boat has a bilge well in the rear with a 1" hole in it's forward (towards the bow) wall. Any water that gets into the well runs forward when the boat is sitting level. The bow is pretty deep so its down hill from the transome bilge well.<br />the water then sits under the deck and has NOWERE to go. I have to jack the boats bow WAY up in the air to get the water to flow out, but some always remains. <br />I DO drain it on the ramp coming out of the water, but some water is always under the deck.And then when I get home and wash the salt water/fishguts/ect... off the boat, that just puts more water into the mix.<br />Thats why I want to get the hatches.<br />Again, thanks for any help.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Deck hatchs???

the boat should not sit level... it should always be raised as high as possible so all water runs out the back as quickly as posible. my boat is same way, most boats are.<br /><br />the floor hatch idea will work , IF...:<br />1. there is no foam directly under where you cut.<br />2. there is no stringer/support directly under where you cut.<br />3. the hatches you use have good sealing properties.<br /><br />you will also need a way to seal the exposed edges of the wooden floor you cut through to make these hatches, otherwise, you will lose your shirt quicker than you can say rot gut!<br /><br />if these are met, i dont see why it wouldnt work, although the spot of floor you cut up copuld verywell be a major spot of support. a weeknes may be noticed afterwards...<br /><br />i just replaved my floor boord becuase the prior owner thought he also wanted a "hatch" into the bilge, floor was very weak all around the hatch..<br /><br /><br />as far as the BLOWERS... im not sure they would even do anything at all.<br /><br />or just get a boat cover

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Deck hatchs???

Something I did on mine to get access to the bilge pumps was put 2-- one on each side-- of deck plate looking round hatches in the skin above them.<br /><br />The mall here should sell them. They come in 4" and 6". I can't remember how much they are, 10-15 bucks or so.<br /><br />You get a screw on round plate with a 'O' ring seal, and the base for it that's threaded on the inside.<br /><br />You cut a big enough hole in a flat surface, drop on the ring with silicone, or some sort of 'gooey' under its edge, screw it down with a half dozen or so wood screws, rivets, bolts-- whatever. Screw the p;ate on it, its done.<br /><br /><br />Both of mine are at the rear of the hull's 'Wings' I guess you'd call them, or rear decking, and when the boat is at rest, they are actually about 2 inches under the surface of the water. If they leak at all, it isn't enough to measure. <br /><br />On my pictures page, you can see them in the pic. that is titled 'topside white base', and see them under water on the pic titled 'on the water'*.<br /><br />*<br />With a full tank and battery, it sits a little lower than in the picture.<br /><br /><br />Ed.

 

[Boilermaker]

Re: Deck hatchs???

Thanks,<br />Good point on the floor supports! I figured I could tap the floor/deck with a rubber mallet and figure out where the supports are. <br />I don't think there is ANY floatation foam under the plywood decking>>>I don't remember any when my dad opened the floor for a deck repair back in the late '70s. The boat is a 1971 model, and I believe the REQUIRED floatation started in 1972.<br />The plywood edge sealing is another great tip>>THANKS>>>I will use some epoxy to seal the wood edges & get the small screw in type plates. The ones I saw at West Marine had "O"Ring seals and screw into an outer ring>>>one in front & one in back should work out>>it will also give me an inspection area for the stringers/substructure.<br /><br />By the way, I Keep it covered and raised>>>but for the bottom of the hull to be tilted to drain, the tounge of the trailer has to be about 3 feet up>>>thats with a cement block, 2 sections of 4x4 wood & the jack all the way up>>>NOT the way I like to leave it in the driveway, around kids. <br />Thanks again<br />Jim

 

[E. E.]

Re: Deck hatchs???

Here is one type of access hatch from Boaters World. Just do a search on their site for access hatch.<br /><br /> http://www.boatersworld.com/webapp/...51&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&productId=307875

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Deck hatchs???

Originally posted by Boilermaker:<br /> NOT the way I like to leave it in the driveway, around kids.

Something that works real well is to get one of those 30-something dollar trailer tongue jacks. They aren't tall enough to get it up as high as you need until you set the wheel or the end of it on a tire & rim. I did that for years and it worked great. I finally welded up a fairly tall tri-pod from some heavy scrap angle stock I found laying around with a old hitch ball welded on top of it. Its the real deal, but I have to use a floor jack to put it on and off the trailer hitch coupeler.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Deck hatchs???

keep in mind that NOTHING seals for any lenght of time in boatin' except epoxy an 3m 5200 .<br /><br />but they even have exceptions.. <br /><br />most/all things that say watertite are pretty much a joke..